Flat knitting machine



I 3, 1937. P. LIEBERKNEGHT FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1954Patented Aug. 3, 1937 PATENT- OFFICE FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Paul leberknecht, Einsiedel, near Chemnitz. Germany Application Septemberllll, 1934, Serial No. 743,438-

lln Germany May 2, i934 2 Claims.

My invention relates to flat knitting machines, and more particularly toimprovements in the knocking-over combs of such machines.

Such improvements relate to machines in 1 which a fresh piece of fabricshall be knitted to an existing piece along a line positionedintermediate the two edges the existing piece. This is efiected byknitting the first course of the new fabric to the selected course ofthe existing fabric,

for instance, to a course at its centre. The existing fabric is placedon the frame needles of the knitting machine with the selected course bymeans ofa transfer bar, so that its two ends hang down from the needlesin the shape of the w letter V (inverted) in front and at, the rear ofthe selected course. The transfer bar is then removed, the first courseof the new fabricis sunk and divided, the knocking-over comb is movedinto inactive position, that portion of the existing fabric which hangsdown at the rear of the 20 selected course, is folded over so that bothportions together hang down in front, the knocking-over combis returnedinto active position, and the new fabric is finished by knitting itscourses in the usual manner.

This procedure involves certain difficulties in flat knitting machinesas designed heretofore because the rear portion of -the existing fabrichung .on the frame needles is not easily disposed of in such manner thatdamage to the frame needles and seizing of the sinkers are avoided, andthe folding-over of the fabric onto thebacks of the frame needles causesloss of time and may lead to damage to the needles.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate the 35 aforesaid drawbacks.

To this end, I so mount the knocking-over comb'that it is displaceablewith respect to the sinker bar, for instance, by attaching it to arocker, or a set of rockers, which is fulcrumed on a fixed part of themachine, and I provide means, such as a spring, for pulling theknocking-over comb toward the sinker bar, in combination with means suchas a lug on one of the rockers, or on each rocker, for limiting themovement of the knocking-over comb toward the sinker bar.

By these means, and independently of any other movements theknocking-over comb performs in the usual way, it is adapted to bedisplaced in forward direction into inactive. position for all positionsof the needle bar, together with but independently of, the needle bar,and in the active position of the knocking-over comb' so much clearanceis provided between the needle bar, the

bar is secured, on the one hand, and the knocking-over comb and itsrocker, or rockers, on the other hand; that the rear portion of thefabric i hanging on" the frame'needles and facing the sinker bar, is notseized or otherwise interfered with, and a pullirig device can beattached to this portion. i

In the drawing aflixed to this specification and forming part thereof aknocking-over comb embodying my invention, and its accessories, areillustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional elevation showing the knocking-over comb inits inactive position, and

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing the knocking-over comb in itsactive position.

Referring now to the drawing, l is a part of the machine frame, forinstance, its head bar, 2 is the sinker bar, and 3, 4 are the jack anddividing sinkers in the bar. 5 is the needle bar, with the frame needles6. A-bracket i3 is secured to the lower side of the needle bar 5 byscrews l4, and a link i5 is pivotally connected to the bracket l3 at l6for moving'the needle bar 5 in the usual manner. 1

The knocking-over comb ii is arranged between the sinker bar 2 and theneedle bar 5, and

is attached'to the upper ends of rockers l8 which are fulcrumed at iiiin brackets 20 secured to the base of the head bar I by screws 2|. Oneof the rockers l8--or all the rockers-is equipped with a lug 22 adaptedto bear against the vertical flange of the head bar I for limiting themovement of the rocker or rockers, toward the sinker bar 2.

A spring 23 tends to pull the rocker toward the head bar I but isprevented by a stronger spring 24 which is attached to the'rocker ill atone end while its other end is attached to a locking lever 25 fulcrumedat 26. A pawl 21 is pivoted on the locking lever at 28 and, in theposition illustrated in Fig. 1, engages behind a check 29 on the frameof the machine. The pull of the stronger spring 24 overcomes the pull ofthe weaker spring 23 and the rocker or rockers M are held away from thebar I with its luz 22.

When the pawl 21 is thrown out, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring 24 losesits tension and the spring 23 now pulls the rocker Hi to the left untilits lug 22 is arrested by the vertical flange of the 5 head bar I.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The fabric 30a, 30b to whoseselected, in the pres-- ent instance, central, course 300 the new fabricis to be connected, is transferred to the frame needles 6 in the activeposition of the needle bar 5 and the knocking-over comb l'l. When thefabric is on the frame needles 6 with its selected course 300, theoperation of knitting the courses which make up the new fabric, is begunfrom the selected course 300. The pawl 21 is thrown out and the spring23 now pulls the rocker, or rockers, l8 toward the head bar I until thelug 2i bears against the vertical flange of the bar. as shown in Fig. 2.It will appear from this rigure that the knocking-over comb I! and therocker, or rockers, I 8 are arrested by the lug 22 at such a distancefrom the sinker bar 2 and the vertical flange of the head bar I, thatthere is ample clearance between these parts, so that not only the rearportion 30b of the fabric. is not interfered with but that also apulling device (not shown) may be connected to the rear portion.

After the first course is knitted to the course 300 and before theneedle bar 5 is elevatedinto sinking position, the knocking-over comb 11together with the needle bar 5 again is moved forward. In this positionthe rear portion 30b is moved in forward direction, and thereupon theneedle bar 5 and the knocking-over comb I! are returned together intooperative position and the needle bar 5 is lifted into the sinkingposition, whereupon the further knitting of the fabric portion from .onerow of loops to the'other takes place.

It is understood that the knocking-over comb i9 may be operated in themanner described, without displacing the needle bar, and I wish it to beunderstood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction shown' and described for obvious modifications will occurto a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a flat knitting machine, a sinker bar, a needle bar, aknocking-over comb mounted for displacement with respect to said sinkerbar between said sinker bar and said needle bar, means for pulling saidknocking-over comb toward said sinker bar, means for limiting themovement of the knocking-over comb toward the sinker bar so as to arrestthe knocking-over comb at a distance from the sinker bar, means forpulling away said knocking-over comb from said sinker bar into inactiveposition, and means for locking it in inactive position.

2. In a flat knitting machine, a sinker bar mounted on a fixed part ofthe machine, a needle bar, a. rocker tu lcrumed on the fixed part,between said sinker bar and said needle bar, a knockingover comb on saidrocker, a spring for pulling said rocker toward said sinker bar, a lugon said rocker adapted to engage the fixed part for limiting themovement of the knocking-over comb toward the sinker bar so as to arrestthe knocking-ov'er c'omb at a. distance from the sinker bar, means forpulling away said knocking-over comb from said sinker bar into inactiveposition, a. spring which is stronger than the first-mentioned springand connects said last-mentioned means to said rocker, and a pawl forlocking said lastmentioned means in the position in which saidknocking-over comb is inactive.

PAUL LIEBERKNECH'I'.

